PCMC directs contractor to stop riverfront development work at Pimple Nilakh
PCMC on Wednesday issued a letter to one of the contractors, directing them to stop work on a 400-metre stretch of the RFD project near the Mula-Ramnadi confluence in Pimple Nilkah near the crematorium.
'There have been complaints from residents and NGOs regarding the ongoing project near Pimple Nilakh crematorium under your supervision. A technical inspection is conducted to reconsider the current work. Until the preliminary report is ready, the work should be temporarily suspended until further orders,' reads the letter, a copy of which Hindustan Times has seen.
Hindustan Times had published the report 'PCMC to revise RFD plan amid public objections' on April 25 on the civic body's plan to revise the RFD project. The civic administration has instructed the environment, garden and tree authority departments to prepare a fresh proposal that gives priority to conservation of trees, the report said.
The decision comes after objections were raised by the irrigation department and complaints from residents and environmental activists. The water resources department on May 5 had asked both Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal corporations to exercise caution while executing works related to the project and ensure that the river's cross-section is not reduced and conditions mentioned in the NOC for the project are not violated, said officials.
Sanjay Kulkarni, city engineer and head, PCMC environment department, said, 'The work from Wakad Bypass to Sangvi Bridge (Phase-1) under the joint Mula river RFD project is implemented by PCMC and PMC. We have decided to redesign the stretch at Pimple Nilakh. However, work on the remaining sections will continue.'
Shekhar Singh, Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner, said, 'We have made similar changes in the project design earlier also on public suggestions to protect the green cover.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
HC forms expert panel to preserve Mumbai's ancient rock-cut cave heritage
MUMBAI: In a significant step toward protecting Mumbai's ancient heritage, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the formation of an expert committee to study and recommend preservation measures for three historic rock-cut cave complexes—Kanheri, Mandapeshwar, and Mahakali. Mumbai, India - April 25, 2016 : Kanheri Caves in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, India, 25th April 2016. (Photo by Samson Tupdal/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) The directive came from a division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Janhit Mancha, a city-based citizens' forum. The plea sought urgent intervention for the protection, upkeep, and demarcation of the caves, which the group said were under threat from encroachments, neglect, and rapid urbanisation. 'The authorities are under a statutory obligation to maintain the caves,' the court noted, adding, 'We hope and trust that all necessary actions will be taken. In case encroachments are observed, appropriate steps should be taken in accordance with the law.' The court-constituted committee will include officials from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, the Urban Heritage Committee, and the Prince of Wales Museum. Experts from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a reputed environmental group, and a Janhit Mancha representative will also join. The panel is tasked with formulating an action plan for the caves' protection, including security arrangements, encroachment removal, and long-term conservation. Ancient marvels in Mumbai's backyard The Kanheri Caves, located within Sanjay Gandhi National Park, date back to the 1st century AD. Once a thriving monastic settlement, the site includes over 100 Buddhist viharas (monastic cells), prayer halls, water cisterns, and carved pathways. Known for their elaborate rock-cut architecture, they stand as a testament to Mumbai's early Buddhist history. The Mandapeshwar Caves in Borivali are Hindu rock-cut shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, believed to be carved between the 6th and 8th centuries. These caves have a layered colonial history—Portuguese invaders built a church atop the shrine in the 16th century, only to be challenged later by the Marathas and eventually reclaimed by the British. Today, traces of all three empires linger at the site. The Mahakali Caves, also known as the Kondivite Caves, are located in Andheri East. Dating from the 1st century BC to the 6th century AD, the 19 caves were once part of a larger village ecosystem. Though less visited than their counterparts, they form a crucial part of the region's archaeological narrative.
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Mumbai panipuri seller's son who failed in Class 11, is now an IITian
Maharashtra's 19-year-old boy, Harsh Gupta, who hailed his Class 11 exams, retook the exams, cleared Class 12, and earned a place at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), reported Hindustan Times. The report added that Harsh Gupta is the son of a small pani puri stall owner in Kalyan, which is one of the founding cities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Gupta enrolled at a coaching institute in in Rajasthan's Kota and secured a seat at IIT Roorkee in Uttarakhand. Now he aims to enter the civil services. The report added that Harsh Gupta scored 98.59 per cent in JEE-Mains and qualified for JEE-Advanced. This is engineering entrance exams for admission to colleges including IITs. But he missed to secure admission to the college of his choice. Following this, he tried again and earned a seat on his second attempt. 'Don't let failure define you. Never give up. After failing the Class 11 exams, I decided to go to Kota. My family supported me in my decision... I always dreamt of clearing IIT and securing a seat in either IIT Mumbai or Roorkee,' the report quoted him as saying. Stating that his father always encouraged him to keep studying, Harsh said, "He said, 'couldn't study, but you should pursue your dreams'. My message for other aspirants is that don't let failure define you. I never gave up, even though I failed in Class 12. I am the first IITian in my family, and my school." Harsh said his classmates teased him and doubted his potential after he failed Class 11. However, Harsh ignored all these taunts and focused on his studies. "But, I didn't pay much heed. I worked hard,' he said. Expressing pride, Harsh's father Santosh said, 'I may be a pani puri vendor, but I'll go to any extent to support my children's dreams. I am very happy. He has always been good at studies, but we had financial constraints." Santosh also arranged funds by withdrawing from his savings. 'I also want my two other sons, Shubham and Shivam, to pursue higher education,' he said.
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Muharram 2025: When are schools, colleges and offices shut - July 6 or 7?
After Ramadan, Muharram is one of the most sacred months in Islam and it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar. Being the first month in the Islamic calendar, Muharram is considered the second-holiest month in the Hijri calendar. Muharram is followed by the lunar months of Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah (or Dhul Qadah) and Zu al-Hijjah (or Zil Hijjah/Dhul Hijjah). On 10 June 2025, Muharram began for the Muslims globally, and as per details, the 10th day of Muharram is observed as Ashura. This year, the Ashura falls on Sunday, 6 July. According to the Masjid-e-Nakhoda Markazi Rooyat-e-Hilal Committee, as quoted by the Hindustan Times, the crescent Moon was sighted in India on 26 June. So, the first day of Muharram-Ul-Haram began on 27 June and with Ashura falling on Sunday, all public and private sector banks and offices will remain closed on this day. Though this is not confirmed as of yet, states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal may announce an official holiday if Muharram is observed on 7 July. This would be done depending on religious and administrative coordination. Parents and students are advised to take updates from the schools, as the decision would be taken by them only after the moon is sighted. Also called Al Hijri or the Arabic New Year, the Islamic New Year starts on the first day of Muharram. The 10th day — Ashura — is observed with mourning by many Muslims in memory of the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The battle battle holds immense religious and political significance in Islamic history. For both Sunni and Shia Muslims, Muharram has historical importance. The battle took place during the caliphate of Yazid I. Imam Hussein ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, refused to pledge allegiance due to Yazid's unjust rule. En route to Kufa, Hussein and his small group were intercepted at Karbala. On Ashura, vastly outnumbered, they were denied water and brutally killed, with Imam Hussein martyred for standing up for justice and Islamic values. With Muharram being the first month of the Islamic year, it is considered a sacred time of prayer and reflection. During this time, warfare is forbidden. The month also marks mourning for Imam Hussein's martyrdom, symbolising justice, sacrifice, and resistance against oppression—core values upheld by Muslims during this spiritually significant period.
